Background/Aims: The factors affecting the detection rate of lymphoplasmacytic sclerosing pancreatitis (LPSP) using endoscopic ultrasound-guided tissue acquisition (EUS-TA) in patients with type 1 autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP) have not been thoroughly studied. Therefore, we conducted a retrospective study to identify the predictive factors for histologically detecting level 1 or 2 LPSP using EUS-TA. Methods: Fifty patients with AIP were included in this study, and the primary outcome measures were the predictive factors for histologically detecting level 1 or 2 LPSP using EUS-TA. Results: Multivariate analysis identified the use of fine needle biopsy (FNB) needles as a significant predictive factor for LPSP detection (odds ratio, 15.1; 95% confidence interval, 1.62–141; ¬¬p=0.017). The rate of good-quality specimens (specimen adequacy score ≥4) was significantly higher for the FNB needle group than for the fine needle aspiration (FNA) needle group (97% vs. 56%; p<0.01), and the FNB needle group required significantly fewer needle passes than the FNA needle group (median, 2 vs. 3; p<0.01). Conclusions The use of FNB needles was the most important factor for the histological confirmation of LPSP using EUS-TA in patients with type 1 AIP.

Background/Aims: The factors affecting the detection rate of lymphoplasmacytic sclerosing pancreatitis (LPSP) using endoscopic ultrasound-guided tissue acquisition (EUS-TA) in patients with type 1 autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP) have not been thoroughly studied. Therefore, we conducted a retrospective study to identify the predictive factors for histologically detecting level 1 or 2 LPSP using EUS-TA. Methods: Fifty patients with AIP were included in this study, and the primary outcome measures were the predictive factors for histologically detecting level 1 or 2 LPSP using EUS-TA. Results: Multivariate analysis identified the use of fine needle biopsy (FNB) needles as a significant predictive factor for LPSP detection (odds ratio, 15.1; 95% confidence interval, 1.62–141; ¬¬p=0.017). The rate of good-quality specimens (specimen adequacy score ≥4) was significantly higher for the FNB needle group than for the fine needle aspiration (FNA) needle group (97% vs. 56%; p<0.01), and the FNB needle group required significantly fewer needle passes than the FNA needle group (median, 2 vs. 3; p<0.01). Conclusions The use of FNB needles was the most important factor for the histological confirmation of LPSP using EUS-TA in patients with type 1 AIP.

Background/Aims: The factors affecting the detection rate of lymphoplasmacytic sclerosing pancreatitis (LPSP) using endoscopic ultrasound-guided tissue acquisition (EUS-TA) in patients with type 1 autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP) have not been thoroughly studied. Therefore, we conducted a retrospective study to identify the predictive factors for histologically detecting level 1 or 2 LPSP using EUS-TA. Methods: Fifty patients with AIP were included in this study, and the primary outcome measures were the predictive factors for histologically detecting level 1 or 2 LPSP using EUS-TA. Results: Multivariate analysis identified the use of fine needle biopsy (FNB) needles as a significant predictive factor for LPSP detection (odds ratio, 15.1; 95% confidence interval, 1.62–141; ¬¬p=0.017). The rate of good-quality specimens (specimen adequacy score ≥4) was significantly higher for the FNB needle group than for the fine needle aspiration (FNA) needle group (97% vs. 56%; p<0.01), and the FNB needle group required significantly fewer needle passes than the FNA needle group (median, 2 vs. 3; p<0.01). Conclusions The use of FNB needles was the most important factor for the histological confirmation of LPSP using EUS-TA in patients with type 1 AIP.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: The association between physical activity (PA) and sarcopenia has mostly been investigated in older people, with few studies focused on earlier life stages. The present study aimed to determine whether higher PA levels are associated with a lower sarcopenia risk in middle-aged and early older people. METHODS: This was an 8-year follow-up study. Participants were 6,500 community-dwelling adults aged 40-74 years who participated in the baseline questionnaire survey conducted in 2011-2014 in Japan. Levels of total and leisure-time PAs at baseline were assessed using validated metabolic equivalent scores. Multi-frequency bioelectrical impedance analysis and handgrip strength measurement were performed in 2021-2022, and participants with low height-adjusted appendicular lean mass (<20th percentile) and low grip strength were diagnosed as having sarcopenia (outcome). Covariates were demographics, body size, lifestyle, and disease history at baseline. RESULTS: The prevalence of sarcopenia was 137/2926 (4.7%) for men and 127/3574 (3.6%) for women. Higher total PA levels were associated with lower odds of sarcopenia (P for trend = 0.0278), with the second highest group having a significantly lower OR (0.51) than the lowest group (reference) in women, but not in men. Regarding leisure-time PA, those engaged in leisure-time vigorous PA had a lower OR of sarcopenia than those who did not (OR = 0.67, P = 0.0625). CONCLUSION Higher levels of total PA are associated with a lower risk of sarcopenia in women but not in men, suggesting a sex difference in this association. In addition, high levels of vigorous leisure-time PA may be effective for preventing sarcopenia.
Humans ; Sarcopenia/epidemiology* ; Japan/epidemiology* ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Aged ; Follow-Up Studies ; Independent Living/statistics & numerical data* ; Exercise ; Adult ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors ; Hand Strength ; East Asian People

Background/Aims: Endoscopic biliary drainage using self-expandable metallic stents (SEMSs) for malignant biliary strictures occasionally induces acute cholecystitis (AC). This study evaluated the efficacy of prophylactic gallbladder stents (GBS) during SEMS placement. Methods: Among 158 patients who underwent SEMS placement for malignant biliary strictures between January 2018 and March 2023, 30 patients who attempted to undergo prophylactic GBS placement before SEMS placement were included. Results: Technical success was achieved in 21 cases (70.0%). The mean diameter of the cystic duct was more significant in the successful cases (6.5 mm vs. 3.7 mm, p<0.05). Adverse events occurred for 7 patients (23.3%: acute pancreatitis in 7; non-obstructive cholangitis in 1; perforation of the cystic duct in 1 with an overlap), all of which improved with conservative treatment. No patients developed AC when the GBS placement was successful, whereas 25 of the 128 patients (19.5%) without a prophylactic GBS developed AC during the median follow-up period of 357 days (p=0.043). In the multivariable analysis, GBS placement was a significant factor in preventing AC (hazard ratio, 0.61; 95% confidence interval, 0.37–0.99; p=0.045). Conclusions GBS may contribute to the prevention of AC after SEMS placement for malignant biliary strictures.

Methods: A total of 79 patients with cervical myelopathy who underwent cervical laminoplasty at our facility between June 2010 and March 2013 were included in this study. Intraoperative control and final waveform were evaluated based on the trapezius muscle MEPs by measuring the latency and amplitude. A neck pain group comprised patients with higher neck pain Visual Analog Scale scores from preoperative value to 1 year postoperatively. The cross-sectional areas of the trapezius muscles and the MEP latencies and amplitudes were compared between patients with and without neck pain. Results: The latency and amplitude of the control waveforms were not significantly different between groups. The neck pain group had a significantly shorter final waveform latency (neck pain: 23.6±2.5, no neck pain: 25.8±4.5; p =0.019) and significantly larger amplitude (neck pain: 2,125±1,077, no neck pain: 1,630±966; p =0.041) than the no neck pain group. Conclusions Postoperative neck pain was associated with the final waveform latency and amplitude of the trapezius muscle MEPs during cervical laminoplasty. Intraoperative electrophysiological trapezius muscle abnormalities could cause postoperative neck pain.

Background/Aims: We aimed to investigate (1) promising clinical findings for the recognition of focal type autoimmune pancreatitis (FAIP) and (2) the impact of endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided tissue acquisition (EUS-TA) on the diagnosis of FAIP. Methods: Twenty-three patients with FAIP were involved in this study, and 44 patients with resected pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) were included in the control group. Results: (1) Multivariate analysis revealed that homogeneous delayed enhancement on contrast-enhanced computed tomography was a significant factor indicative of FAIP compared to PDAC (90% vs. 7%, p=0.015). (2) For 13 of 17 FAIP patients (76.5%) who underwent EUS-TA, EUS-TA aided the diagnostic confirmation of AIPs, and only one patient (5.9%) was found to have AIP after surgery. On the other hand, of the six patients who did not undergo EUS-TA, three (50.0%) underwent surgery for pancreatic lesions. Conclusions Homogeneous delayed enhancement on contrast-enhanced computed tomography was the most useful clinical factor for discriminating FAIPs from PDACs. EUS-TA is mandatory for diagnostic confirmation of FAIP lesions and can contribute to a reduction in the rate of unnecessary surgery for patients with FAIP.

Background/Aims: This study aimed to clarify the efficacy and safety of pancreatic duct lavage cytology combined with a cell-block method (PLC-CB) for possible pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas (PDACs). Methods: This study included 41 patients with suspected PDACs who underwent PLC-CB mainly because they were unfit for undergoing endoscopic ultrasonography-guided fine needle aspiration. A 6-Fr double lumen catheter was mainly used to perform PLC-CB. Final diagnoses were obtained from the findings of resected specimens or clinical outcomes during surveillance after PLC-CB. Results: Histocytological evaluations using PLC-CB were performed in 87.8% (36/41) of the patients. For 31 of the 36 patients, final diagnoses (invasive PDAC, 12; pancreatic carcinoma in situ, 5; benignancy, 14) were made, and the remaining five patients were excluded due to lack of surveillance periods after PLC-CB. For 31 patients, the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of PLC-CB for detecting malignancy were 94.1%, 100%, and 96.8%, respectively. In addition, they were 87.5%, 100%, and 94.1%, respectively, in 17 patients without pancreatic masses detectable using endoscopic ultrasonography. Four patients developed postprocedural pancreatitis, which improved with conservative therapy. Conclusions PLC-CB has an excellent ability to detect malignancies in patients with possible PDACs, including pancreatic carcinoma in situ.

Background/Aims: The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety of sedation with propofol as an alternative to benzodiazepine drugs in outpatient endoscopy. Methods: In this prospective study, examinees who underwent outpatient endoscopy under propofol sedation and submitted a nextday questionnaire with providing informed consent were evaluated. Periprocedural acute responses, late adverse events within 24 hours, and examinee satisfaction were evaluated. Results: Among the 4,122 patients who received propofol in the 17,978 outpatient-based endoscopic examinations performed between November 2016 and March 2018, 2,305 eligible examinees (esophagogastroduodenoscopy for 1,340, endoscopic ultrasonography for 945, and total colonoscopy for 20) were enrolled, and their responses to a questionnaire were analyzed. The mean propofol dose was 69.6±24.4 mg (range, 20–200 mg). Diazepam, midazolam, and/or pentazocine in combination with propofol was administered to 146 examinees. Mild oxygen desaturation was observed in 59 examinees (2.6%); and mild bradycardia, in 2 (0.09%). Other severe reactions or late events did not occur. After eliminating 181 invalid responses, 97.7% (2,065/2,124) of the patients desired propofol sedation in future examinations. Conclusions Propofol sedation was found to be safe—without severe adverse events or accidents—for outpatient endoscopy on the basis of the patients’ next-day self-evaluation. Given the high satisfaction level, propofol sedation might be an ideal tool for painless endoscopic screening.